Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-09

| SECRETAR YENDICOTT'S REPORT
The report transmitted to Congress by
Secretary Endicott shows that our coun-
try is but poorly provided with defenses
in case of foreign invasion. There are
no large guns of consequence, and men
OF war with long range guns could bonn
bard our coast cities without opposition
from the land. The Secretary urges that
inaugurated, and that guns and other
munitions of war be purchased. He
wants the army increased to at least 3d.
900 men, and that officers attending
courts martial be allowed extra expenses
for such service. He makes some recon-
mendations of minor Importance, but the
report throughout betrays in bold lines,
that omnipresent characteristic OF the
American Office holder. It is peculiarly
an American trait, this longing for more
power, more Importance, andG continued
increase and progress in anything
under control. The schoolman be-
Iieves that schools and colleges
are the greatest institutions in
the world and if he had his way unre-
stricted, the country would be one vast
school room; the heads of the vavious
departments in state or national govern
ments seem TO think that their particular
departments sre little more important
than those of anybody else, and that #
the government would only make more
liberal appropriation, how much wiser it
would be acting. Scarcely a report is
made by any officer that does not men
ton the inadequacy of appropriations,
and complain at the Injurious p2rsimony
of the state. Money in abundance is
wanted al around. No one will be sur
prised that Secretary Eudicot6 should
follow the long lire OF precedents in this
respect. He mingles with military men
and imbibes their ideas unconsciously.
In the eyes of the soldier the civilian is q
being OF no consequence save q wealth
producer, and that wealth should be de-
voted to supporting noble soldiery. The
more money appropriated and the larger
the army becomes the greater will the
soldier seem and the more opportunities
will be offered for his advancement. The
annual spawns of military schools must
be provided for and to do this requires
the increase in the army and the building
OF Notifications. It is not likely that the
recommendation of the Secretary will be
followed out to any considerable extent.
We are not we'll protected, it IS true, but
we require no protection. There is no
country on earth that would attack US,
and the money spent in building fortifca-
tons and manning them would be q loss
to the country quite unnecessary. There
are many objections to be urged against
spending fabulous sums of money in
building fortifcations. The strides OF
science in recent years have been such
that what would have been 8 defense ten
years ago would be no defense at all now,
and we may well believe that what would
be called defenses now will be antiquated
ten years hence. These nations that are
spending their substance in forts and war
ships may live to see such i'm
plements OF war neutralized or
rendered valueless by some cheap and
simple contrivance OF the scientist.
Nor is there any necessity for sn increase
in the regular army. The militia In each
state can take care of the peace of the
common wealth, and it is better to saesYe
tue defenses in their hands. A stsns5ing
army is contrary to the spirit of ouke in
situations, and the longer we eaHsdo
without one the better. The reporta of
those in authority all towards ahe
Capitalization and incresse Empower, md
in this they but follow ID the faotster s. at
the countries of urone thai are ew
soldier ridden and taxed beyond erdur-
ance. We need few more frst-class